WHO DOES THE POLICE PROTECT - THE CITIZENS FROM THE MOB OR THE OTHER WAY ROUND?

Terrorism in Bosnia

AIM Sarajevo, 7 October, 1997

Pitiful and still unclarified event which occurred in front of the building of the police administration in Mostar when several persons were wounded in an explosion of an unidentified device, and 120 apartments destroyed, not only shook up the public but aroused justified fear of an eruption of terrorism in B&H among the citizens. The "incident in Mostar" as one of the local politicians called it, could indeed be characterized as the grand entry of terrorism in Bosnia & Herzegovina. While the "incident in Mostar" is still a mystery, a new one happened in Tomislavgrad, with the mosque in the focus this time. Opponents of the Federation and peace in Bosnia & Herzegovina, not only refuse to rest in peace, but with a lot of cynism, unscrupulousness and the worst intentions are arousing fear and concern among the citizens. In other words they are creating the atmosphere suitable for terroristic actions. That terrorism has been set in motion is best illustrated by the fact that, first, the president of the presidency of B&H Alija Izetbegovic (on the occasion of Mostar), and then member of presidency of B&H Kresimir Zubak, after the explosion of the Tomislavgrad mosque, appealed on the international community to help in clarification and fighting against - terrorism!

The mentioned events wrapped in darkness have imposed the question again whether they, too, like a series of previous ones, would remain in the domain of mystery, that is, unclarified by the police? Especially because matters concerning the investigation in Mostar have complicated to such an extent and are so manipulated by politics that enormous mistrust both among the partners in power of the Federation and among the public has reappered. And while the highest state officials could not agree whether the federal ministry of the interior and the IPTF should be involved in the investigation, or whether only the Croat police should be working on the case, certain individuals just added fuel to the flames. Instead of giving direct orders for revelaing and punishing perpetrators, representatives of the authorities reached out only for verbal condemnation and demagogic "invitation for investigation". There are no serious state reactions nor actions, which is in any case a stimulus for those who obstruct the Federation especially by such terroristic actions.

Nobody denies the appearance of terrorism in this space any more. This is confirmed by the latest session of the chamber of nations attended by president of B&H Federation, Vladimir Soljic, vice-president Ejup Ganic and several federal ministers, of internal affairs Mehmed Zilic, inclusive. An "eruption of terrorism" was established, as well as the need "to discuss it in public". But, there were neither reactions nor explanations by responsible persons from the Federation. The attempt of certain representatives to put this topic on the agenda of the Chamber of Nations also failed. Partners in power, that is, the deputies from the ranks of the ruling SDA and HDZ were not ready for it, and the tireless conductors of assembly activities, presidents of the Bosniac and the Croat club, Dzevad Mlaco and Ivan Bender, directed the topic of terrorism to a completely different track - one of the "next sessions for which the president and the vice-president of the federation, and then the government, and therefrom the minister of internal affairs must prepare reports about the situation in the federation and terrorism". One cannot but wonder whether representatives of the federal authorities are actually concerned about this matter and whether, as Igor Rajner (of the United List) said, terrorism would flourish for as long as there were "unresolved issues" among the partners in power?

    The terrorist event in Mostar according to the already

established custom is politicized to such an extent that for Bosniac representatives in the authorities it is an act of the Croats, and for the Croats it is an act, as commented by the daily Hrvatska rijec close to the HDZ, of followers of Hezbolah. Of course, hasty and arbitrary evaluations of the event which is primarily a criminal act either of an individual or a group aimed at undermining the Federation and everything achieved so far for stabilization of the situation in Mostar. Mutual accusations of the partners in power and prevention of the joint professional investigation are further complicating the matter and covering the event in Mostar with a veil of mystery.

On the other hand, unsuccessful attempt to engage a joint team on the level of the Federation in the investigation shows that joint police has practically not been established yet in Mostar. The explosion of the car-bomb in Mostar, as specified by experts happened exactly at the moment when the process of establishment of joint authorities was commended, and therefrom that of the police as well. It is obvious, however, that success in operation of the joint police was just an illusion, because how could it have happened that after the incident, instead of working together, Croat policemen went one way and the Bosniac completely the opposite. It is true that they proceeded with their joint activities in Mostar but not in the investigation of this event.

The event in Mostar is much more complex and significant than it may appear at first sight. Essentially, apart from the question whether it will ever be resolved, and the perpetrators named and punished, it implies the question whether anybody will ever bear responsibility for inefficiency of the police, or in other words insecurity of the citizens who are unprotected and more and more frequently exposed to risks and suffering, who can seriously be threatened by terrorism. It is true that the citizens of Bosnia & Herzegovina have become accustomed to suffering, explosions, bombs and demolishing in the past five years, but it is very hard for them to accept the fact that terrorism has become part of their lives which are threatened for allegedly "higher political causes".

Complaints against the police are nothing new, because terrorism in Mostar was preceeded by a series of other incidents, murders and planted explosive devices. But, instead of resolving murders and criminal acts, they are just multiplied and complicated. Is there any other explanation for the fact that on the highest level of the Federation, forum of the Federation and in the presence of international representatives, it was agreed that the police and relevant authorities would inform the public in the beginning of September this year about the events which had occurred in Bugojno and Stolac when refugees returned. To this day the police failed to come out into the public with the data or names of those who are guilty not only of the mentioned incidents but also of six murders committed in the central Bosnian canton.

Not only has it failed to reveal the data and the names of the perpetrators and protaginists of these unhappy developments, but the police did not even respect the time limits set at the highest level of the Federation. It is true that prime minister of the federal government, Edhem Bicakcic, recently reminded the federal police of the obligation to inform the government and the public about the final organization of the joint police forces. But, there was a time limit for this job, which has been exceeded.

Because of everything that is happening - unmet obligations concerning organization of joint police and a series of unresolved and accumulated terrorist cases - for the time being, it has not occurred to any of the federal officials to even get concerned, least of all to submit resignation to any of the posts. The current behavior of the federal police is not only cementing insecurity of the citizens, but rightfully imposes the question - is the police in this country protecting the citizens from the mob or the other way round?

Mirjana MICEVSKA

(AIM, Sarajevo)